Image processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and medium

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus is to execute a process selected among multiple processes. The image processing apparatus includes a storage unit to store a list in which each of the processes is associated with a type of the process representing whether the process is to use information about an orientation of a document; an objective process determination unit to determine whether the selected process to be executed is of the type to use the information about the orientation of the document, based on the list stored in the storage unit; and a display control unit to display a confirmation screen on a display unit, for prompting to confirm the orientation of the document after having received an execution command for the process, in a case where the process has been determined as of the type to use the information about the orientation of the document.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-158528, filed on Aug. 10,2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus, aninformation processing apparatus, and a medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

When using a conventional image processing apparatus or the like, a usersets the orientation of a document on an automatic document feeder(ADF), a contact glass, or the like, and places the document in the setorientation so that a process is executed on a print side as intended bythe user.

A process that needs to have the orientation of a document set on aconventional image processing apparatus may be, for example, adouble-side print process, an aggregated print process, a stapleprocess, and the like.

If a user does not recognize that a process needs to have theorientation of a document set on a conventional image processingapparatus, the user may set the document in a wrong orientation, and aprocessed result not intended by the user may be output if the processis executed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the disclosed technology, an image processing apparatus isconfigured to be capable of executing a plurality of processes, and toexecute a process selected among the processes. The image processingapparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a list in whicheach of the processes is associated with a type of the processrepresenting whether the process is to use information about anorientation of a document; an objective process determination unitconfigured to determine whether the selected process to be executed isof the type to use the information about the orientation of thedocument, based on the list stored in the storage unit; and a displaycontrol unit configured to display a confirmation screen on a displayunit, for prompting to confirm the orientation of the document afterhaving received an execution command for the process, in a case wherethe process has been determined as of the type to use the informationabout the orientation of the document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configurationof an image processing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hierarchical structureof a group of programs included in an operational unit and a main unitof an image processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating functional units of an operationalunit;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a list stored in an objective processstorage unit;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of an operational unit;

FIGS. 6A-6D are diagrams illustrating an example of transition ofscreens on an operation panel of an operational unit;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation screen;and

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating effects of an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following, embodiments will be described with reference to thedrawings.

According to an embodiment, it is possible to prevent a processed resultnot intended by the user from being output. In an embodiment, when anexecution command has been issued for a process that needs to have theorientation of a document set, a confirmation screen to promptconfirmation of the orientation of the document is displayed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configurationof an image processing apparatus 100.

The image processing apparatus 100 in the embodiment is a multifunctionperipheral (MFP) or the like that includes image processing functions,for example, a copy function, a scan function, a facsimile (FAX)function, and a print function.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 includes anoperational unit 200 and a main unit 300.

The operational unit 200 is used when a user performs various operationssuch as selecting an image processing function to be executed by themain unit 300; inputting various setting values to execute the imageprocessing function; inputting an execution command to start executingthe image processing function; and switching a display screen.

The main unit 300 executes various processes such as execution of animage processing function in response to various operations by the useron the operational unit 200. Also, the main unit 300 requests theoperational unit 200 to display various messages.

The operational unit 200 in the embodiment includes a central processingunit (CPU) 201, a read-only memory (ROM) 202, and a random access memory(RAM) 203. The operational unit 200 also includes a flash memory 204, anoperational panel 205, a connection interface (I/F) 206, and acommunication I/F 207. These hardware units are mutually connected via abus 208.

The CPU 201 is a processor that executes various programs stored in theROM 202 or the flash memory 204 by using the RAM 203 as a work area, tocontrol the entire operational unit 200.

The ROM 202 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory (a storage device)that holds data even when power is turned off. The RAM 203 is a volatilesemiconductor memory (a storage device) that temporarily stores programsand data.

The flash memory 204 is a non-volatile recording medium to store variousprograms (for example, programs to implement the embodiment) executed bythe CPU 201, and various data items.

The operational panel 205 is used by the user when performing variousoperations. Also, the operational panel 205 displays various messages.In other words, the operational panel 205 displays, for example,graphical user interface (GUI) display screens for the user to performvarious operations with respect to various functions of the imageprocessing apparatus 100, and information about processed results by theimage processing apparatus 100 and the like (error messages, guidancemessages, etc.).

The connection I/F 206 is an interface to communicate with the main unit300 via a communication path 209. An interface compliant with, forexample, Universal Serial Bus (USB) standards, may be used for theconnection I/F 206.

The communication I/F 207 is an interface to communicate with otherdevices. An interface compliant with, for example, Wi-Fi standards, maybe used for the communication I/F 207.

The main unit 300 in the embodiment includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, and aRAM 303. The main unit 300 also includes a hard disk drive (HDD) 304, animage processing engine 305, a connection I/F 306, and a communicationI/F 307. These hardware units are mutually connected via a bus 228.

The CPU 301 is a processor that executes various programs stored in theROM 302 or the flash memory 304 by using the RAM 303 as a work area, tocontrol the entire main unit 300.

The ROM 302 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory (a storage device)that holds data even when power is turned off. The RAM 303 is a volatilesemiconductor memory (a storage device) that temporarily stores programsand data.

The HDD 304 is a non-volatile recording medium to store various programs(for example, programs to implement the embodiment) executed by the CPU301, and various data items.

The image processing engine 305 is hardware to execute image processingto implement various image processing functions such as a copy function,a scan function, a FAX function, and a print function.

The image processing engine 305 may include, for example, a scanner thatoptically captures a document to generate image data, a plotter thatexecutes printing on a sheet member such as a sheet, and a FAXcommunication device that executes FAX communication. The imageprocessing engine 305 may also include, for example, a finisher thatsorts out printed sheet members, and an ADF that feeds documentsautomatically.

The connection I/F 306 is an interface to communicate with theoperational unit 200 via the communication path 209. An interfacecompliant with, for example, USB standards, may be used for theconnection I/F 306.

The communication I/F 307 is an interface to communicate with otherdevices. An interface compliant with, for example, Wi-Fi standards, maybe used for the communication I/F 307.

By having the above hardware configuration, the image processingapparatus 100 in the embodiment can implement various processes, as willbe described later.

Note that in FIG. 1, although an example of a configuration isillustrated in which the image processing apparatus 100 includes theoperational unit 200, the configuration is not limited as such. Forexample, the operational unit 200 may be an information processingterminal such as a tablet terminal, a smart phone, a cellular phone, anda PDA. In other words, these information processing terminals maycommunicate with the image processing apparatus 100 via thecommunication I/F 207 of the operational unit 200 or the communicationI/F 307 of the main unit 300, to be capable of controlling the imageprocessing apparatus 100.

Next, a hierarchical structure of a group of programs included in theoperational unit 200 and the main unit 300 of the image processingapparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is adiagram illustrating an example of a hierarchical structure of a groupof programs included in the operational unit 200 and the main unit 300of the image processing apparatus 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates the hierarchical structure of a group of programsincluded in the operational unit 200, and a group of programs includedin the main unit 300.

The group of programs included in the operational unit 200 are stored inthe ROM 202, the flash memory 204, and the like. The group of programsincluded in the main unit 300 are stored in the ROM 302, the HDD 304,and the like.

First, the hierarchical structure of the group of programs included inthe main unit 300 will be described. The group of programs included inthe main unit 300 may be generally classified into an application layer310, a service layer 320, and an operating system (OS) layer 330.

A program classified into the application layer 310 is a program thatoperates on a hardware resource(s) to implement an image processingfunction. Specifically, a copy application, a scan application, a FAXapplication, and a print application may be considered.

A program classified into the service layer 320 is a program that liesbetween the application layer 310 and the OS layer 330. Such a programplays a role as an interface through which a program in the applicationlayer 310 uses hardware resources included in the main unit 300, andstates of the hardware resources included in the main unit 300 areindicated.

Specifically, a service-layer program may receive operational requestsfor the hardware resources, and may arbitrate the received operationalrequests. Also, a service-layer program may transmit an error detectedin a hardware resource as error information. Note that operationalrequests received by the service layer 320 include, for example,operational requests for image processing by the image processing engine305 (an operational request for capturing by a scanner, an operationalrequest for printing by a plotter, and the like).

Note that the role of the interface executed by a program classifiedinto the service layer 320 is also served for the application layer 210of the operational unit 200. In other words, a program classified intothe application layer 210 of the operational unit 200 accesses theservice layer 320, to operate on the hardware resources of the main unit300 so as to realize the image processing functions.

A program classified into the OS layer 330 is a program called basicsoftware that provides basic functions to control the hardware resourcesincluded in the main unit 300. A program classified into the OS layer330 receives an operational request for a hardware resource from aprogram classified into the application layer 310 via a programclassified into the service layer 320, and executes processing inresponse to the operational request. Also, after a program classifiedinto the OS layer 330 has started running, the program may receive anerror detected in a hardware resource, and transfers the errorinformation to the service layer 320.

Next, the hierarchical structure of a group of programs included in theoperational unit 200 will be described. Similar to the main unit 300,the group of programs included in the operational unit 200 may begenerally classified into an application layer 210, a service layer 220,and an OS layer 230.

However, functions provided by programs classified into the applicationlayer 210, and types of operational requests that can be received by theservice layer 220, are different from those of the main unit 300.Programs classified into the application layer 210 of the operationalunit 200 mainly provide user interface functions for various operationsand displaying.

Note that it is assumed in the embodiment that the operational unit 200and the main unit 300 have respective OSes that operate independently.Also, as long as the operational unit 200 and the main unit 300 cancommunicate with each other, the OSes do not need to be the same type.It is possible, for example, that the operational unit 200 uses Android(trademark) as the OS whereas the main unit 300 uses Linux (trademark)as the OS.

In this way, the image processing apparatus 100 may be controlled bydifferent OSes in the operational unit 200 and the main unit 300,respectively. Therefore, communication between the operational unit 200and the main unit 300 is not executed as inter-process communication ina single apparatus, but executed as communication between differentinformation processing apparatuses. For example, an operation totransmit operational information that represents various operationsreceived by the operational unit 200 from the user to the main unit 300,and an operation to transmit a display request by which the main unit300 sends a command to the operational unit 200 to display a displayscreen, correspond to such communication.

However, the image processing apparatus 100 in the embodiment is notlimited to have the operational unit 200 and the main unit 300 rundifferent types of OSes, but the operational unit 200 and the main unit300 may run the same type OS. Also, the image processing apparatus 100in the embodiment is not limited to have the operational unit 200 andthe main unit 300 run respective OSes independently, but the operationalunit 200 and the main unit 300 may have a single OS run.

Note that in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, although it is assumed that the imageprocessing apparatus 100 is configured to include the operational unit200 and the main unit 300, the configuration is not limited as such. Theimage processing apparatus 100 in the embodiment may have, for example,the main unit 300 that includes the operational unit 200. In this case,the main unit 300 has the operational panel 205 disposed.

Next, functions of the operational unit 200 in the embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustratingfunctional units of the operational unit 200. Note that these functionalunits of the operational unit 200 are implemented by the CPU 201executing programs classified into the application layer 210.

The operational unit 200 in the embodiment includes a display controlprocess unit 240, a cooperation unit 250, and an objective processstorage unit 260.

Based on an operation received by the operational unit 200, the displaycontrol process unit 240 in the embodiment has the operational panel 205display a confirmation screen that prompts the user to confirm theorientation of a document that has been set. The display control processunit 240 will be described in detail later.

The cooperation unit 250 in the embodiment transmits a request forexecuting an image processing function to the main unit 300, andreceives from the main unit 300 a request for displaying a message, suchas an error message and a guidance message, on the operational panel205.

The objective process storage unit 260 stores a list in which eachprocess type executed by the image processing apparatus 100, isassociated with information representing whether a confirmation screenis to be displayed for the process. It is assumed in the embodiment thatprocesses for each of which a confirmation screen is displayed aredetermined in advance.

In the embodiment, a process for which a confirmation screen isdisplayed is a process that needs to have the orientation of a documentset to be executed appropriately. In other words, the process for whicha confirmation screen is displayed is a process to be executed by usinginformation about the orientation of the document set on the operationalunit 200.

In the following, the list stored in the objective process storage unit260 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagramillustrating the list stored in the objective process storage unit 260.

In the list 261 stored in the objective process storage unit 260 in theembodiment, the type of each process is associated with information thatrepresents whether a confirmation screen is to be displayed for theprocess (referred to as “information about confirmation display”,below). In other words, each of the multiple processes in the list 261has an information item associated that represents whether aconfirmation screen is to be displayed for the process.

The types of processes may include, for example, all types of processesthat are executed on the image processing apparatus 100, or may justinclude types of copy processes.

In FIG. 4, the type of a process “full-color copy” has the informationabout confirmation display associated, which is “N/A (non-applicable)”.Therefore, it can be seen that the process “full-color copy” is not ofthe type for which a confirmation screen is to be displayed.

In contract to the above, the type of a process “double-side print” hasthe information about confirmation display associated, which is “A(applicable)”. Therefore, it can be seen that the process “double-sideprint” is of the type for which a confirmation screen is to bedisplayed.

Note that in the example in FIG. 4, information about confirmationdisplay is denoted by “A” for a process for which a confirmation screenis to be displayed, and by “N/A” for a process for which a confirmationscreen is not to be displayed, but the denotation is not limited assuch. Information about confirmation display may be denoted by “Yes” fora process for which a confirmation screen is to be displayed, and by“No” for a process for which a confirmation screen is not to bedisplayed. The information about confirmation is just required fordetermining whether a confirmation screen is to be displayed for acorresponding process.

Note that processes for which respective confirmation screens aredisplayed may include a bookbind process, a two-page-spread, double-sideprint process, and an enlarged multi-sheet print process, in addition toprocesses “double-side print”, “aggregated print”, “divided print”,“staple”, and “punch” in FIG. 4.

In the following, the display control process unit 240 will be furtherdescribed. The display control process unit 240 in the embodimentincludes an input reception unit 241, an objective process determinationunit 242, and a display control unit 243.

The input reception unit 241 in the embodiment receives input on theoperational panel 205. The objective process determination unit 242refers to the objective process storage unit 260, and determines whethera process that corresponds to an operation received by the inputreception unit 241 is a process for which a confirmation screen isdisplayed.

Depending on a determination result by the objective processdetermination unit 242, the display control unit 243 may display aconfirmation screen before executing a command that corresponds to theoperation.

In the following, operations of the operational unit 200 in theembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is aflowchart illustrating operations of the operational unit 200.

The operational unit 200 in the embodiment determines whether anoperation to select a process to be executed has been received on theoperational panel 205 by the input reception unit 241 of the displaycontrol process unit 240 (Step S501). Note that display on theoperational panel 205 in the embodiment will be described in detaillater. At Step S501, if a selection operation has not been received, theinput reception unit 241 waits until a selection operation is received.

At Step S501, if a selection operation has been received, the displaycontrol process unit 240 determines whether an operation of an executioncommand for the selected process has been received by the inputreception unit 241 (Step S502).

At Step S502, if an execution command has not been received, the inputreception unit 241 waits until an execution command is received. Notethat in the embodiment, embodiment, if an execution command is notreceived within a predetermined time, the display control process unit240 may switch the display on the operational panel 205 from a screenthat has been displayed at Step S501 for selecting a process, to a homescreen.

At Step S502, if an execution command has been received, the displaycontrol process unit 240 has the objective process determination unit242 refer to the objective process storage unit 260, to determinewhether the process for which the execution command has been received isa process for which a confirmation screen is to be displayed (StepS503).

At Step S503, if the process is not a process for which a confirmationscreen is to be displayed, the operational unit 200 goes forward to StepS507, which will be described later.

At Step S503, if the process is a process for which a confirmationscreen is to be displayed, the display control process unit 240 has thedisplay control unit 243 display a confirmation screen for prompting theuser to confirm the orientation of the document to be set (Step S504).Note that the confirmation screen will be described in detail later.

Next, the display control process unit 240 has the input reception unit241 determine whether an execution command is issued for the process onthe confirmation screen within a predetermined time (Step S505).

At Step S505, if an execution command has not been issued within apredetermined time, the display control process unit 240 has the inputreception unit 241 determine whether an operation to return to theprevious screen has been made on the confirmation screen within apredetermined time (Step S506).

At Step S506, if a corresponding operation has not been made within apredetermined time, the display control process unit 240 ends theprocess. Note that in this case, the process selected at Step S501 isnot executed. Also, the display control process unit 240 may switch thedisplay on the operational panel 205 from the confirmation screen to thescreen displayed at Step S501 for selecting a process, or a home screen.

At Step S506, if a corresponding operation has been made within thepredetermined time, the display control process unit 240 goes back toStep S501.

At Step S505, if an execution command has been issued for the process,the display control process unit 240 requests the cooperation unit 250to transmit the execution command to the main unit 300. In response tothe request, the cooperation unit 250 transmits a request for executingthe process to the main unit 300, and ends the process of this flowchart(Step S507).

In the following, transition of screens on the operational unit 200 inthe embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A-6D and 7.

FIGS. 6A-6D are diagrams illustrating an example of transition ofscreens on the operation panel 205 of the operational unit 200. FIG. 6Aillustrates an example of a top screen of a copy process displayed onthe operational panel 205, and FIG. 6B illustrates an example of asetting screen for a double-side print process. FIG. 6C illustrates anexample of a top screen after a setting has been done for thedouble-side print process, and FIG. 6D illustrates an example of aconfirmation screen.

A top screen 61 in FIG. 6A is an example of a screen that is displayedon the operational panel 205 at Step S501 in FIG. 5. On the top screen61 in FIG. 6A, the user may scroll an image 62 displayed on the topscreen 61 in a direction designated by an arrow Y1, to have a displaypart 63 displayed on the operational panel 205, for selecting adouble-side print process.

In response to receiving an operation on the display part 63 on the topscreen 61, the display on the operational panel 205 transitions from thetop screen 61 to a setting screen 64 of the double-side print processillustrated in FIG. 6B. Note that “receiving an operation” in theembodiment may be, for example, receiving a touch on the display part63.

If a setting has been done for the double-side print process on thesetting screen 64, and an OK button 65A is operated that indicatescompletion of the setting, the display on the operational panel 205transitions from the setting screen 64 to a top screen 61A illustratedin FIG. 6C.

Note that if the user operates on a return button 65B on the settingscreen 64 to return to the top screen 61, the display on the operationalpanel 205 transitions from the setting screen 64 to the top screen 61illustrated in FIG. 6A.

On the top screen 61A illustrated in FIG. 6C, a message 66 indicatingthat the setting(s) has been done for the double-side print process isdisplayed. Note that information about a message to be displayed on thetop screen 61A may be associated with a corresponding process, andstored in a storage device of the operational unit 200, for example, theROM 202, the RAM 203, or the flash memory 204.

If the user operates on a start button 67 on the top screen 61A, thedisplay control process unit 240 determines that an execution commandhas been issued for the double-side print process. Then, the displaycontrol process unit 240 has the operational panel 205 display aconfirmation screen 70 for the orientation of the document asillustrated in FIG. 6D.

The confirmation screen 70 illustrated in FIG. 6D is an example of ascreen displayed at Step S504 in FIG. 5. Note that in the embodiment,the confirmation screen 70 may be displayed superimposed on the topscreen 61A (for example, pop-up displaying), or the display on theoperational panel 205 may transition from the top screen 61A to theconfirmation screen 70.

On the confirmation screen 70, if the user operates on a start button71, the display control process unit 240 determines that confirmation ofthe orientation of the document has been completed, and an executioncommand has been issued for the double-side print process.

Here, the confirmation screen 70 in the embodiment will be furtherdescribed with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating anexample of the confirmation screen 70.

The confirmation screen 70 in the embodiment designates an orientationof the document that matches the currently selected process, to promptthe user to confirm whether the document is set in the orientationmatching the process.

On the confirmation screen 70, messages 72-73 and images 74-75 thatdesignate orientations of the document are displayed.

The image 74 is an image that illustrates a state in which the documentis set, for example, on an ADF. In this case, the document is set sothat a side having characters printed is oriented upwards (faceup), andhence, the user in front of the image processing apparatus 100 can readcharacters normally in this state. The message 72 corresponds to theimage 74.

The image 75 is an image that illustrates a state in which the documentis set, for example, on a contact glass. In this case, the document isset so that a side having characters printed is oriented downwards(facedown), and hence, the user in front of the image processingapparatus 100 cannot read characters normally in this state. The message73 corresponds to the image 75.

In the example in FIG. 7, the message 72 is highlighted to indicate thatthe orientation of the document matching the selected process is thesame as the orientation designated by the message 72 (in the stateillustrated by the image 74). In other words, if following theconfirmation screen 70 in FIG. 7, and setting the document in thecharacter-readable orientation for the selected process, the user whohas selected the process can obtain output as intended.

In the following, effects of the embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating effects of theembodiment. On a top screen 81 illustrated in FIG. 8, a display part 82for specifying the orientation of a document is displayed.

If a process for which the orientation of a document needs to be set isselected on the image processing apparatus 100, the orientation of thedocument is specified with the display part 82, and the document isactually set in accordance with the specified orientation, then, theprocess can be executed on a print side as intended by the user. Notethat setting a document means, for example, placing the document on anADF or a contact glass.

In the embodiment, with or without the orientation of the documentspecified as above, once an execution command has been received for theprocess, it is possible to prompt the user to confirm whether theorientation of the document is set in an orientation in accordance withthe corresponding process.

Therefore, according to the embodiment, if the user does not recognizethat the orientation of a document needs to be set, and issues anexecution command for a process, without having set an appropriateorientation of the document, it is possible by the confirmation screen70 to prompt the user to confirm whether the orientation of the documentset by the user matches the process selected by the user. Also,according to the embodiment, for example, if the user does not recognizethat the orientation of a document needs to be set, it is possible toprevent a processed result not intended by the user from being output.

Thus, the embodiments have been described in detail in the presentdisclosure. Note that the present invention is not limited to thespecific embodiments, which can be changed within the scope of thepresent invention, and can be appropriately defined depending on usage.

RELATED-ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.    2014-97859

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus configured to becapable of executing a plurality of processes, and to execute a processselected among the processes, the image processing apparatus comprising:a storage unit configured to store a list in which each of the processesis associated with a type of the process representing whether theprocess is to use information about an orientation of a document; anobjective process determination unit configured to determine whether theselected process to be executed is of the type to use the informationabout the orientation of the document, based on the list stored in thestorage unit; and a display control unit configured to display aconfirmation screen on a display unit, for prompting to confirm theorientation of the document after having received an execution commandfor the process, in a case where the process has been determined as ofthe type to use the information about the orientation of the document,wherein the confirmation screen indicates a current orientation to theuser, and displays a button to the user to confirm the indicatedorientation.
 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the confirmation screen includes an image illustrating anorientation of characters in the document, and a message correspondingto the image.
 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein in a case where after the execution command for the process hasbeen received, and an execution command has been issued again on theconfirmation screen, the image processing apparatus executes the processfor which the execution command has been received.
 4. An informationprocessing apparatus configured to be capable of executing a pluralityof processes, and to execute a process selected among the processes, theinformation processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit configuredto store a list in which each of the processes is associated with a typeof the process representing whether the process is to use informationabout an orientation of a document; an objective process determinationunit configured to determine whether the selected process to be executedis of the type to use the information about the orientation of thedocument, based on the list stored in the storage unit; and a displaycontrol unit configured to display a confirmation screen on a displayunit for prompting to confirm the orientation of the document afterhaving received an execution command for the process, in a case wherethe process has been determined as of the type to use the informationabout the orientation of the document, wherein the confirmation screenindicates a current orientation to the user, and displays a button tothe user to confirm the indicated orientation.
 5. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the confirmationscreen includes an image illustrating an orientation of characters inthe document, and a message corresponding to the image.
 6. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in a casewhere after the execution command for the process has been received, andan execution command has been issued again on the confirmation screen,the information processing apparatus executes the process for which theexecution command has been received.
 7. A non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium having a program stored therein forcausing a computer to execute a method, the computer being configured tobe capable of executing a plurality of processes, and to execute aprocess selected among the processes, the method comprising: referringto a storage unit configured to store a list in which each of theprocesses is associated with a type of the process representing whetherthe process is to use information about an orientation of a document;determining whether the selected process to be executed is of the typeto use the information about the orientation of the document, based onthe list stored in the storage unit; and displaying a confirmationscreen on a display unit for prompting to confirm the orientation of thedocument after having received an execution command for the process, ina case where the process has been determined as of the type to use theinformation about the orientation of the document, wherein theconfirmation screen indicates a current orientation to the user, anddisplays a button to the user to confirm the indicated orientation. 8.The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim7, wherein the confirmation screen includes an image illustrating anorientation of characters in the document, and a message correspondingto the image.
 9. The non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumaccording to claim 7, wherein in a case where after the executioncommand for the process has been received, and an execution command hasbeen issued again on the confirmation screen, the computer executes theprocess for which the execution command has been received.